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Conceptual Design of a Kraft Lignin Biorefinery for the Production of Valuable Chemicals via Oxidative Depolymerization

Abdelaziz, Omar Y. LU ; Al-Rabiah, Abdulrahman A. ; El-Halwagi, Mahmoud M. and Hulteberg, Christian P. LU orcid (2020) In ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering 8(23). p.8823-8829
Abstract
Lignin is the most abundant aromatic biopolymer on Earth, and its aromatic structure makes it a promising platform for the production of biobased chemicals and other valuable building blocks. The valorization of lignin into chemicals currently presents a challenge, and its facilitation is key in the development of viable lignocellulosic biorefinery processes. This study presents a conceptual design for a recently demonstrated process for lignin oxidative depolymerization. Modeling, simulation, and analysis were performed based on experimental data to assess the viability of the process. Mass and energy balances and main design data were determined for a 700 t/y kraft lignin biorefinery. The production capacity of aromatic chemicals,... (More)
Lignin is the most abundant aromatic biopolymer on Earth, and its aromatic structure makes it a promising platform for the production of biobased chemicals and other valuable building blocks. The valorization of lignin into chemicals currently presents a challenge, and its facilitation is key in the development of viable lignocellulosic biorefinery processes. This study presents a conceptual design for a recently demonstrated process for lignin oxidative depolymerization. Modeling, simulation, and analysis were performed based on experimental data to assess the viability of the process. Mass and energy balances and main design data were determined for a 700 t/y kraft lignin biorefinery. The production capacity of aromatic chemicals, including vanillin, vanillic acid, guaiacol, and acetovanillone, was 0.3 kg aromatics/kg net lignin use. A heat-integrated process design is suggested, and the energy demands and the CO2 emissions are evaluated and compared. Assuming an interest rate of 10% and a plant lifetime of 10 years, the return on investment was calculated to be 14%, indicating that such a biorefinery is viable. A sensitivity analysis was carried out to assess the impact of the vanillin selling price and the cost of lignin on the profitability of the process. A quantitative investigation of process sustainability resulted in an E-factor of ∼1.6 for the entire synthetic route, that is, 38% material efficiency. The findings of this study underline the need for further research to develop efficient lignin conversion technologies with attractive yields in order to increase profitability on an industrial scale. (Less)
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author
; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering
volume
8
issue
23
pages
8823 - 8829
publisher
The American Chemical Society (ACS)
external identifiers
  • scopus:85086563817
ISSN
2168-0485
DOI
10.1021/acssuschemeng.0c02945
project
High value chemicals from lignin using biological processes
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
bf7aee4f-efdb-4619-a70b-b4aca5354dd7
date added to LUP
2020-06-17 12:37:01
date last changed
2023-12-18 22:46:33
@article{bf7aee4f-efdb-4619-a70b-b4aca5354dd7,
  abstract     = {{Lignin is the most abundant aromatic biopolymer on Earth, and its aromatic structure makes it a promising platform for the production of biobased chemicals and other valuable building blocks. The valorization of lignin into chemicals currently presents a challenge, and its facilitation is key in the development of viable lignocellulosic biorefinery processes. This study presents a conceptual design for a recently demonstrated process for lignin oxidative depolymerization. Modeling, simulation, and analysis were performed based on experimental data to assess the viability of the process. Mass and energy balances and main design data were determined for a 700 t/y kraft lignin biorefinery. The production capacity of aromatic chemicals, including vanillin, vanillic acid, guaiacol, and acetovanillone, was 0.3 kg aromatics/kg net lignin use. A heat-integrated process design is suggested, and the energy demands and the CO2 emissions are evaluated and compared. Assuming an interest rate of 10% and a plant lifetime of 10 years, the return on investment was calculated to be 14%, indicating that such a biorefinery is viable. A sensitivity analysis was carried out to assess the impact of the vanillin selling price and the cost of lignin on the profitability of the process. A quantitative investigation of process sustainability resulted in an E-factor of ∼1.6 for the entire synthetic route, that is, 38% material efficiency. The findings of this study underline the need for further research to develop efficient lignin conversion technologies with attractive yields in order to increase profitability on an industrial scale.}},
  author       = {{Abdelaziz, Omar Y. and Al-Rabiah, Abdulrahman A. and El-Halwagi, Mahmoud M. and Hulteberg, Christian P.}},
  issn         = {{2168-0485}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{23}},
  pages        = {{8823--8829}},
  publisher    = {{The American Chemical Society (ACS)}},
  series       = {{ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering}},
  title        = {{Conceptual Design of a Kraft Lignin Biorefinery for the Production of Valuable Chemicals via Oxidative Depolymerization}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/acssuschemeng.0c02945}},
  doi          = {{10.1021/acssuschemeng.0c02945}},
  volume       = {{8}},
  year         = {{2020}},
}